Chapter 7 - Something's Coming

Something's coming, something good. I can feel it in my bones. Any day now; I am long overdue for some good luck. I don't know what it'll be, I just know it'll be good. Maybe it's hiding from me, or maybe it's right in plain sight. Come on something, where are you?

The train station was bustling with people when I got there; Stella didn't tell me it was going to be this crowded. I guess I probably should have assumed that. It's so loud I could barely hear myself speak, so trying to find Stella by yelling her name wasn't going to work. Anyway, now that it's been about ten minutes of pushing through people trying to find her, the crowd has thinned out; probably because they're on the train while I'm looking for my chaperone who, by the way, really needs to start communicating better if we're going to do this. Part of the blame is still on me though. I don't have to get on the train with her, the professor has already generously paid my fare. In fact, she's probably already in there.

I shuffle into the metro along with what was left of the people still outside.

I was right. There, at the very end of train, is Stella. Scorbunny is already fast asleep next to her on the window seat.

"What the fuck?" I ask as I sat down across from her.

She looks up from her phone at me and says, "I said four hours, I even waited an extra five minutes."

Wow, so generous.

"Well, I was a little distracted."

That distraction being hunger, I am still very hungry. I hope they have those people that drive by with those carts full of sweets, if anyplace in the world still has those, it's definitely Galar. I have zero money left after the cupcake incident, no that is not in reference to anything else, but let's just say I'm not planning on paying, (I'm going to steal). I'm planning on using Agent as an accomplice to my crimes, what better thief than a small little creature who can go invisible? I've already notified him of my plan. No, it's not morally wrong, you're wrong for criticizing a starving child. Of course, the alternative is asking Stella to throw me a bone, but let's be honest, that's not going to happen.

"You want anything?"

Well, isn't that something. Not exactly the something I was hoping for, but I'll take any win I can get.

"Huh? What?" As you can tell, I'm confused.

"Please, I can hear your stomach rumbling, and it's gross. Do you want anything or not?"

"Yes! Can I have—"

"Cheapest thing you've got." She says

"Hey!"

"I'm not made of money, you get what you get." That's fair, I suppose.

"I'll take a coffee, black, two of those cookies, three Twix, a croissant—actually make that two croissants, and a tuna sandwich, for the rabbit." She added that last part quickly, as if she'd never be caught eating a tuna sandwich, even though I know her Galarian tongue has definitely had worse. I'm with her though, tuna is gross.

She's not made of money, but only when it comes to the needy. You want to guess who that includes? Also, I guess black coffee isn't necessarily a Galarian thing, but it's still gross. On my list of worst things to eat/drink, I think I can safely place black coffee at a not so solid number 3, right behind toast sandwiches and brain eating amoebas. I think those damn shape-shifting single celled organisms are going to be holding that spot for a long time. Unless of course, Galar is still saving the worst for last.

If you like black coffee, you are probably a terrible person. Actually, not just black coffee, all coffee. Black coffee just happens to be the worst offender. How does anyone like that stuff? It's so bitter. You want to know what I think?

Probably not, but I'm going to tell you anyway. I think people only drink it for the caffeine.

"You actually like that stuff?" The woman places the cup of coffee on the small table between us.

"This?" She takes a sip of the coffee, "God no, this shit is disgusting. I don't know how people like it." She takes another swig.

"You don't say."

"I couldn't fall asleep until five in the morning, I have to stay awake somehow." She hands the woman the sum total of her gargantuan order, which was a ridiculous 300 Poké.

"Well, you know other kinds of coffee also have caffeine."

“She shakes her head and gulps, "Yes, but, it's the bitterness, it keeps me sharp."

"Uhuh, well okay. So where' my—"

She tosses me a bag of lightly salted chips, "You owe me."

I rip open the bag, "For a half full bag of chips?"

"Yes, you're welcome, by the way." She says, with an entire full course meal in front of her.

"Thank you miss."

---

If you want to know how the train ride went, I'll tell you. Stella spent a majority of the train ride on her phone, doing... something. I'm not entirely sure what, considering there wasn't any service out there, and there still isn't at the train station.

"Today for you." Stella says, placing a few Poké into the drummers donation bucket.

The drummer smiles at her and says something I can't quite make out through all of the noise, this station is just as crowded as the one in Wedgehurst. Which makes sense, why wouldn't it be?

She turns back to me, "Well aren't you a beacon of generosity."

"Yes, I am, now lets get going."

I hate crowds, if Stella wasn't here I'm certain I would have gotten lost and died already. I made sure to keep my wallet and my ID safe in pocket. Most trainers had the sense to register for the gym challenge weeks or even months in advance, so the line to register consists of only a few other like-minded idiots. Apparently, Stella did so with the professors granddaughter Sonia, and just neglected to tell me I could do that as well. So, as a result, It's just me in line.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"ID please." You know, between Stella and the professor, I totally forgot that Galarians have accents. I mean, I've been hearing it for the past week so 'forgot' is a bit of a misnomer in the sense that I just used it, but hearing it from this many people is jarring. I don't like it, I don't like it one bit. It's like they're trying their hardest to sound super fancy, but it's not working at all. Next thing you know, I'm going to be hitting the pub and going out on a holiday. Actually, this brings me to something I've been thinking about; where is Stella's accent? I mean, she did grow up here, right? I'm pretty sure she's just hiding it, sometimes when she talks, it'll slip out unintentionally. This one time, she said 'garage' in that weird way Galarians do, with an emphasize on the first a, and just pretended like it didn't happen. I played along, it wasn't in my best interests to anger her. Now though? Maybe I should ask about it.

I reach into my pocket and pull out my wallet. I hand the man my ID and prepare the most genuine-looking smile I could muster for my photo. The result of which, is a card verifying my status in the gym challenge. It has a name, but I didn't hear it, I was too horrified by my photo. It looks worse than I could have ever imagined. I quickly stuff the horrible thing into my wallet and pray it never has to see the light of day again.

Stella told me she would be waiting for me outside, but if earlier today is anything to go off of, I should get out there sooner rather then later.

"You waited." I say, stepping outside. The breeze hits me immediately.

"Only to see your photo, let me see it."

I shake my head vehemently, "Absolutely not, that thing is not leaving my wallet unless absolutely necessary.

"Lame."

I can't resist the call of the wild. The wild area is... breathtaking, you could even say it's something. It is a lot larger then the photos would have you believe. I can make out a few ranger outposts in the distance, but other than that, all wilds. The area surrounding the leftmost lake, West Lake Axwell I believe, is covered in forest. Supposedly, that's the safest route of the four. It's also the biggest, which isn't good news for my fat ass. I can barely see the giant gates of Motostoke way out in the distance beyond the lakes.

"So, uh, how long is this whole journey going to take?" I ask.

"A week, if we're fast." She says, "But with you weighing my down, maybe a week and a half."

Oh god, a week straight of hiking. As if Galar couldn't get any worse. Come on something, any day now.

---

I want you to image what a place called 'The Rolling Fields' looks like. If you are imaging a large swath of rising grassy hills going up and down, than you are right, to an extent. This is what I thought the Rolling Fields would be, but unfortunately, I forgot that Galar is the worst place on earth. The hills aren't rolling, they are rising like the world's most poorly designed ramp. And with every step, I can feel every one of my limps and organs begging me to stop. Yes even that useless bastard named appendix.

Panting, I ask, "How much... How much longer?"

Stella looks down at me from above, "Until what?"

How is she not tired?

"What do you think? Until we're out of here." I struggle to keep climbing.

"Oh, a lot, a hell of a lot."

Is she—

"—Fucking with me? Are you fucking with me?" I ask.

She stops climbing, "Bell, we've been walking for forty minutes."

No fucking way, this place is going to be the death of me. Something, please, I need you.

---

I release Agent to give me motivation about half way there, because I am starting to lose my motivation. I'm also starting to think Stella is some sort of robot made for the sole purpose of walking for... fucking forever, probably. I hate grass, I think I understand Rocky now. For once, Galar's shitty weather is working in my favor. I cannot imagine making this hike in the heat, I would have passed out hours ago. The only thing keeping me going are Agent's cheer's coming from the top of my head. Scorbunny has made it his mission to show me how much more stamina he and Stella had, running up ahead of us, sometimes I can't even see him because he's so far ahead.

And Stella? She still hasn't broken a sweat. Well, I also haven't, on account of the cold weather, but you get my point.

"Stella, please, I need a break." I say as I go limp and slump on the side of the hill.

"Fine," she says, "Get down here!" She yells to her partner.

She walks down to my spot on the hill.

"So... where's Rookidee?" Just assume that with every word I speak, there's a four second pause in between each word to account for my hyperventilation.

"Still in his ball." she explains, "I didn't have time to bring him to a center so I just sprayed him with a few potions and let him rest, I'll probably let him out when we get to the Dappled Grove."

"Speaking of that, when are we going to get—"

"A few more hours," oh god, "Relax—the rest of the hike won't be nearly this bad, no hills."

Oh, so there is light at the end of the tunnel. I guess that's something.

The break only lasted about five minutes. Stella's insistence on hiking like maniacs was exhausting, I hate it. Though, in the long run, it'll get us out of here faster and into Motostoke. It's already working, we're ahead of most of the other trainers, which is good because having to deal with other people on top of this already excruciatingly painful hike sounds like something out of my worst dreams—actually scratch that, my dreams are a lot worse.

Arceus, I can't wait for the day I have enough money to eat whatever the fuck I want. That bag of chips was enough to sustain me, for about 2 hours. After that, I was tired, hungry, and I had a stomachache, and I had a headache. All of which are still true, but now I also need to use the bathroom. And I refuse to pee in public, that's almost as gross as using a public bathroom, although I will have to do that once we make it to the ranger station at the end of the Rolling Fields. Stella had explained to me that at the end of every designated section was a small ranger station complete with an inn and a Pokémon center, how very kind of the league to do.

Also, I quickly realized how unprepared I was for this. I brought three water bottles with me from Wedgehurst, I thought that would be enough. I was so very wrong, so wrong in fact that I was resorting to having Agent refill my water bottle for me. I'm sure that's all kinds of unsanitary, but frankly I don't give a fuck. I mean, it just tastes like water. Then again, Rocky just looks like innocent crab, but he's actually a serial killer who murders his victims by talking for so long that they die waiting for him to shut up. Luckily, I have this magical device called a Pokéball that let's me shut him up with the press of a button, so I have been spared from his cruelty so far. I almost succumbed on that first horrible day.

Anyway, back to me being wildly unprepared. I can't help but notice that Stella has a small tent strapped onto her backpack. Am I supposed to have one of those? If I am, why did nobody tell me? Stella, I understand, she doesn't tell me shit. But the professor? She didn't tell me a thing. She probably I assumed I would do my own research. What does she think I am? Responsible? She knows better than that.

I heave a groan as we reach the top of yet another hill. I practically collapse. Just a little bit longer and I'll be free of this awful place.

---

The air is humming—wait, no, that's just me.

I was in a merry mood after we reached the end of the Rolling Fields. You know when people say they get a 'runners high' after they run a marathon? Yeah, that was me. I was on top of the fucking world, figurately of course. In reality, I was collapsed at the foot of the final hill we had to cross. I took a mandatory thirty minute break, Stella did to. She didn't show it, but she was just as tired as me. Well, maybe a little less tired.

I could see the grass fields transform into huge forest just beyond the ranger station. It was dark, and frankly pretty scary. But the best part? No hills, and no grass.

We were the first wave of trainers to make it here. Even so, it was already dark out. Most other trainers who hadn't already arrived probably decided to wait it out until morning came. But not me! I'd be sleeping good.

Out here in the wild, you could actually see the stars in the sky. The violent winds and gray skies had dissipated; replaced instead by a pleasant breeze and a beautiful starry night.

Anywho, that's enough of the past tense. Back to the present!

"I'm taking Jet—" That's Stella's Rookidee, she decided to name it for some reason, "—To the Pokémon center just in case. You should probably sleep, and shower, you smell."

Well, I have to agree with her on that, "Okay, but I don't have any money. How am I supposed to get a room?"

"The Budew Inn's are free for trainers. Pokémon Centers to, but, these ones don't have any rooms." She says, "Now shoo."

I can never get the final word in. She's already gone. Well, I guess I'm on my own now.

Somethings coming, something good. I know it is. Just... not today.